There are few places in WA which can rival the historic appeal of Fremantle, and even fewer properties with the potential we saw in this former warehouse, located on Arundel St. Built in 1928, the warehouse later became a winery and we were given the opportunity to design its next transformation into a pair of contemporary luxury townhouses.

Preserving the heritage features of this beloved building was a chief concern from the beginning. The façade retains much of the warehouse’s original character, and our choice of materials is consistent with the building’s origins: traditional red brick, natural timber and industrial steel. We also retained the original wine vats in the courtyard, giving the owners a tangible connection to the building’s history. Inside, we converted the generous space into three-storey residences, each with almost 300m2 of living space. Exposed trusses and soaring ceilings give clear reminders of the home’s past, with mezzanine levels and an open-plan approach to the living areas to give the owners a real sense of space.

The design is centred on the luxury lifestyle we envisaged for the owners, with an emphasis on Fremantle’s coastal character. The ground floor features floor-to-ceiling glazing and opens out onto a private courtyard with a two-storey feature brick wall: the perfect way to enjoy the sea breeze on summer afternoons. The top-floor master bedrooms are extravagant in their proportions and outlook, each blessed with magnificent views across Fremantle to the ocean. The finishes and fittings are of the highest quality, with Essa stone bench tops, Smeg appliances, marble bathrooms, deep deluxe baths, ensuite and walk-in-robes. We also wanted to maximise the convenience of the building’s incredible location, a two-minute walk from the heart of Fremantle. The homes feature electric gates and automatic garages, with intercom access for the reassurance of ‘lock and leave’ security.